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Why the homeless Female Dog mom demands only for petting and not food?

696 views 4 replies 2 participants last post by  Asish 
#1 ·
Hi all,
Can someone explain the phenomenon why the dog preferred petting over food?
 
#2 ·
Dogs value different resources differently just as humans do and may prefer a certain resource more in one situation than another. A resource is anything the dog values i.e. needs or likes e.g. food, contact, water, resting places, toys, scents, petting, the list is endless. Some dogs value human contact more than food. If a dog isn't starving but enjoys human contact then it will value that more. Also some animals will not eat if stressed or worried (high arousal) but will seek out reassurance through contact.

In the video the dog looks like it enjoys the petting and is well fed so petting is a more valuable resource at that time than food.

My cat will always chose petting over food. He never is left to go hungry but should he be starving then food would take precedence.
 
#4 ·
I must say this is a wonderful piece of information I got and I was expecting the reason to be close to the one you have explained above...I think I am asking too much but can you let me know , if you are able to understand the behaviour demonstrated by my Puppie named Blackie[3months old video 1] and [5 month old in video 2]. It is not very clear why he humps over me whenever he sees me after a while. Is it anxitey or over happiness..but yeah he is well fed for sure :)...Its real strange behavious but I will like to take your opinion on this...any references will be helpful too....

3 months old video:



5 months old Video of my puppy:

 
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